“It’s a number". That's what Tony Snow said speaking for the White house on June 2006 when American military casualties reached 2,500. Today, it's an additional 1500, bringing a total of 4000 U.S. soldiers dead and about 30,000 injured.

Today, others are saying:

Fairly early this morning, Barack Obama’s campaign released this statement.

“It is with great sadness that we have reached another grim milestone in Iraq, with at least 4,000 of our finest Americans having been killed. Each death is a tragedy, and we honor every fallen American and send our thoughts and prayers to their families. It is past time to end this war that should never have been waged by bringing our troops home, and finally pushing Iraq’s leaders to take responsibility for their future.

“As we do, we must serve the memory of all who have died as well as they served our country, by providing support for their families, caring for our troops and veterans, and upholding the American values which our fallen heroes exemplified through their service.”

 Hillary Clinton’s campaign released this statement.

“Five years after the start of the war in Iraq, there have now been 4,000 U.S. military deaths in Iraq. On this solemn day, we remember the sacrifice of our brave men and women in uniform. We honor the tens of thousands more who have suffered wounds both visible and invisible, wounds that scar bodies and minds, and hearts as well. We honor the sacrifices of their families, a price paid in empty places at the dinner table, in the struggle to raise children alone, in the wrenching reversal of parents burying children.

“I recall the great honor of meeting many of our brave men and women who have served our country. In meeting them, I am always struck by how, no matter how great their suffering, no matter how grave their own injuries, they always say the same thing to me: “Promise that you’ll take care of my buddies. They’re still over there. Promise you’ll keep them safe.”

“I have looked those men and women in the eye. I have made that promise. And I intend to honor it by bringing a responsible end to this war, and bringing our troops home safely.

From House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)

Today, we mourn America’s fallen heroes; the death of 4000 American soldiers is a grim reminder of the enormous cost of war in Iraq: the human cost. We honor those soldiers, America’s best and bravest who have paid the ultimate price, and pray for their families and loved ones.

With 4,000 American lives lost and thousands injured, many of them permanently, Americans are asking how much longer must our troops continue to sacrifice for the sake of an Iraqi government that is unwilling or unable to secure its own future.

Americans also understand that the cost of the war to our national security, military readiness and our reputation around the world is immense and that the threat to our economy – as the war in Iraq continues to take us deeper into debt – is unacceptable.

America wants a New Direction, not the continuation of the President’s plan for a 10-year, three trillion dollar war in Iraq.

From our beloved Vice President Dick Cheney, we get a slightly different answer than "So?"

"The president carries the biggest burden, obviously."

  It's disturbing that our Vice President wants us to think that the family's burden is secondary to that of Bush.

                                                                 He added:
"They volunteered"

This reminds me of Mitch McConnell's statement in December of 2007:

“Unfortunately, most of our friends on the other isle are having a hard time admitting things are getting better; some days I almost think the critics of this war don't want us to win. Nobody is happy about losing lives but remember these are not draftees, these are full-time professional soldiers."


As of 4:00 PM today, the John McCain folks have not made a statement or mentioned the 4000 dead.

And our fearless leader George Bush said:
 
 "I have vowed in the past, and I will vow so long as I'm President, to make sure those lives were not lost in vein..."


Ok, so if I'm to understand President Bush correctly, as well as John McCain being fine with 100 years of war, we keep slaughtering more young men to justify those slaughtered before them? I think it's a known fact that Bush has no clue or any interest in ending his war on fear. To keep killing our young and bleeding our nation simply to avenge the slaughter and waste that's already done is simply buying time to pass this atrocity on to the next guy. I just can't see electing someone that has the same objectives.